Area Democrats believe the choice of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan as Republican Mitt Romney’s running mate for president will help Barack Obama’s chances in Ohio this fall.

“The women in this country and older Americans will not embrace this candidate,” said Gail Garbrandt Rubert of Bolivar, a member of the Tuscarawas County Democratic Party’s central committee and a former professor at the University of Akron.

Had Romney chosen U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, as his running mate, the story might have been different, Taylor said. “In a key state like this, the fact that he chose someone from out of state strengthens Obama’s chance to carry Ohio, a pivotal state.”

Romney, the Republican nominee for president, announced his selection Saturday of the seven-term Wisconsin congressman as his running mate.

Ryan is chairman of the House budget committee and is known for his plan to remake Medicare and cuts trillions in federal spending.

“Rep. Ryan is a Tea Party person,” said Ida Barlock, chair of the Tuscarawas County Democratic Party. “At a time when Republicans are trying to downplay the Tea Party, I wonder about Romney’s choice.”

She added, “I don’t think he (Ryan) has the best interests of the American people in mind when it comes to health care and Medicare.”

Barlock is looking forward to watching Vice President Joe Biden debate Ryan. “I think the debate between Biden and Ryan will be interesting.”

Former local radio talk-show Andrea Fanti of Uhrichsville described Ryan’s selection as “an interesting choice.”

“I think he’s probably a sincere young man,” she said. “I think he was chosen to appease the Tea Party people, because they think Romney is too liberal.”

She expected Romney to pick a woman as his running mate.

“A lot of the Republican platform will take us back to the 1950s in regard to women’s rights,” Fanti said.

She called Ryan an intelligent man, but said his views are more extreme than those of Romney. “I hope what they’re saying is political posturing. If they get into a position of power, I hope they will be more moderate and willing to compromise. Someone who is unwilling to compromise is really scary.”

Local Democrats will kick off their fall campaign with a Labor Day/Democratic picnic Sept. 1 at Deis Hill in Dover.

Barlock is hopeful Obama will do well in November, although she anticipates it will be a close race.

“If the polls hold up, Obama has a good chance of winning,” she said.

She predicted that the president will carry Tuscarawas County in the general election, as he did four years ago.

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“We’re sure that Obama is going to be in Ohio,” she said. “Hopefully he will be near here, if not in New Philadelphia.”

But she foresees a nasty campaign in the remaining months.

“There will be a lot of negative campaigning on both sides, which I hate to see,” Barlock said.